North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
SEARC Championship
No. 23 NC State Rifle Wins SEARC Championship
3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Rifle
March 1, 2004
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State shot a 1,528 to break its all-time team high match score for the fourth time this season overcoming The Citadel (1,512), Birmingham Southern (1,511), Clemson (1,459) and North Georgia College (1,319) to claim their first South Eastern Air Rifle Conference championship. The match gives the Wolfpack an average score of 1,514.20 and a 24-2 record in the SEARC, while improving to 41-2 in overall NCAA competition.
Freshman Jennifer Marshall (383), Kirk Freeman (382), Matthew Gifford (381) and junior Ryan Dorety (382) all placed within the top five scores for the event. Marshall garnered the SEARC honors for highest finals average for the season and second highest match average for the season. Freeman and Gifford were also awarded for the fourth and fifth highest match averages for the season respectively. Sophomore Christine Kimball was declared the most improved shooter.
"We went in expecting to win, but it was a real challenge to finish strong and not only win the conference championship, but the individual match as well," stated head coach Keith Miller. "This was our strongest air rifle all year and I am really pleased with our performance. We accomplished our two mail goals this season and that is absolutely something to be proud of. Our first goal was to win the SEARC, which we finally accomplished for the first time. Our second goal was to finish the season ranked in the top 25, so we are pleased to finish ranked 23rd. Next year we aren't losing anyone and we are hoping to pick up a few strong newcomers, so we should be better, stronger and deeper. Finishing strong this season is incredibly beneficial for the future success of the program."
The NC State sharpshooters will be honored during the second half of this Wednesday's men's basketball game against Maryland at the RBC Center. Tip-off is set for 9 pm.
NC State will conclude the season at the Wake County Range in Holly Springs as host of the Simonson Memorial on March 27. Directions to the Wake County Range in Holly Springs can be found below.
